New path ( Mapleshade AU)

Chapter 7: Apprenticeship ceremonies

A/N: I don't own Warriors. Erin Hunter does. I just play with the characters.

Mapleshade was washing herself in front of the nursery when she noticed that Birchfoot was approaching her. The dark brown and white tabby tom had become an important part of Mapleshade's and her kit's new life in RiverClan during the past three and half  moons. He's a dear friend to me. So are his sisters, especially Nettlecloud, because we are both queens.

Birchfoot looked at her, purring.  I still can't believe that Darkstar would give a cat from ThunderClan a place in RiverClan, but I'm glad she did. Especially because Mapleshade and her kits have gotten used to life in RiverClan. They have even learned how to swim.

' Birchfoot padded out of the warrior's den, purring as he saw the kits of Frostfall and Mapleshade run around the camp, chasing a moss ball while his nephews watched the older kits with wide eyes from the entrance of the nursery with their mother.

When Pebblekit, Snowkit and Blizzardkit noticed him they ran over, bouncing around his paws excitedly.

" Calm down, kits. Do not bother your uncle too much. " Nettlecloud purred, looking at her sons.

" It's good to see that they have energy. " Birchfoot replied, purring as the trio tussled with each other in a ball of white, grey, and russet.

Nettlecloud nodded, purring. " Sometimes it feels like they have too much of it. "

Mapleshade had overheard the conversation and padded over to them, purring. " Have they learned how to swim yet? Maybe it could give them an opportunity to burn off some of the excess energy they have. "

Nettlecloud shook her head. " Not yet, they are only a moon and a half after all. Usually, RiverClan kits will start learning how to swim when they are around two moons old. "

The former ThunderClan queen nodded. " I see. I was thinking that maybe one of you could teach me and my kits how to properly swim, because none of us really knows how to do it. "

Birchfoot nodded, purring. " Of course, I can. When would you like to start? "

"  How about tomorrow at sunhigh? I'd like to start it soon. " Mapleshade suggested, the tip of her tail twitching slightly with the nervousness she was feeling about being in the water again.

Bramblefoot nodded, purring. " Sounds great. "

The next day Birchfoot padded into the nursery, only to be met by a barrage of kits storming towards him. Larchkit, Patchkit , Petalkit, Snowkit, Pebblekit, and Blizzardkit crowded around his paws, chattering excitedly.

" Are you really going to take us swimming?" Patchkit asked, his tail twitching with excitement at the thought of being like a real RiverClan cat.

Birchfoot nodded, purring.  " Yes, I am. Now, remember to listen to your mother and me closely. " He mewed before leading Mapleshade and her kits toward a shallow part of the river that was used for teaching the kits how to swim.

As Mapleshade got closer to the river she tensed slightly, with a flash of fear in her amber eyes. " What if something goes wrong and one of them gets hurt?" She mewed worriedly.

" Don't worry about it, this part of the river is shallow and safe for kits their age. Go on, try wading through it. " He purred, watching as the tortoiseshell queen padded into the shallow water where her kits were already splashing around. '

Birchfoot was snapped out of his thoughts by Mapleshade's question.

" When do you think Darkstar will hold the apprentice ceremony for my kits?" She repeated the question, looking at him.

" Probably soon. Your kits are nearly six moons after all. Have you thought about which of the warriors should be their mentors?" He asked, purring.

Mapleshade nodded. " Yes, I have. Patchkit will be apprenticed to Bristleflight because he wants to be a medicine cat. For Petalkit and Larchkit Sunblaze and Shellsong respectively. " Because they have been good to me and my kits, Shellsong even told Dawnfang off for spreading the rumors about me and Appledusk.

Birchfoot nodded. " Those are good choices. Sunblaze may seem intimidating but he's actually an easygoing tom who hasn't had an apprentice yet. Neither has Shellsong, but I know that she'd love to train at least one apprentice. "

Mapleshade nodded. " That's why I thought they'd be good choices. "

About half a moon later Darkstar called a Clan meeting. " As all of you know, Mapleshade and her kits have lived in RiverClan for about four moons now. If you remember, when I took them in, I told Mapleshade that she'd have at least two moons period of apprentice duties after her kits were apprenticed. That day has come now. " The black she-cat mewed, before turning her amber gaze towards the trio of kits who nearly bounced in place due to excitement they were feeling.

"Patchkit, Larchkit and Petalkit. You have reached the age of six moons and it's time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you get your warrior names you will be known as Patchpaw, Larchpaw and Petalpaw. Patchpaw, your mentor will be Bristleflight. I hope Bristleflight will pass down all she knows to you. " The leader mewed before turning towards the medicine cat , who touched her nose with Patchpaw's, meowing " Don't worry, little one. You will have a medicine cat apprentice ceremony the next half-moon when we will have a meeting. " Patchpaw nodded, shaking with excitement.

Darkstar nodded, purring before, continuing the ceremony. " Larchpaw, your mentor will be Shellsong. I hope Shellsong will pass down all she knows to you. " The leader mewed before turning towards the chocolate tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes.

" Shellsong, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Icefur and you have shown yourself to be patient and understanding. You will be the mentor of Larchpaw and I except you to pass down all you know to Larchpaw. " The black leader mewed before letting the warrior touch noses with her newly minted apprentice.

" I'll make you an excellent warrior, I promise. " Shellsong told him, purring.

After that Darkstar apprenticed Petalpaw to Sunblaze, a fluffy golden tabby tom with green eyes.

" Patchpaw! Larchpaw! Petalpaw! Patchpaw! Larchpaw! Petalpaw! " The Clan cheered as was the custom.

" Now, we have one ceremony left. " Darkstar mewed, looking at Mapleshade, who looked back at her with a mixture of curiosity, expectancy, and a hint of fear.

" Mapleshade, I know that you are a warrior but you have to learn some of the intricacies of RiverClan life. I will be your mentor. " The leader mewed before jumping down from the rock pile to touch noses with the tortoiseshell. " I will make sure that you will learn everything you need to know about life as a true RiverClan cat. I promise. " Darkstar told her, purring.

" I believe that. Thank you for giving me and my kits a chance, Darkstar. " Mapleshade mewed gratefully.

A/N: What do you think? Was it a surprise that Darkstar would mentor Mapleshade, or did you guess it?